Sat Feb 10 02:00:00 EAT 2018

SC Villa in pole position

Impressive: Kyambadde (right) will hope to maintain his strong first half for Villa in the second round which resumes today.

By Andrew Mwanguhya

In Summary

Soccer. But the league toppers, who want to capitalize on KCCA being away on Champions League duty to stretch the lead, come up against a defiant Maroons, who struck at the death to hold them in the first round

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KAMPALA.

It is 49 days today since we witnessed any Azam Uganda Premier League (AUPL) action.But the wait, during which Uganda fell short once again at the African Nations Championship (Chan), is over and now is the time for SC Villa to proclaim enough is enough, or KCCA to make it three on the trot, while condemning the Jogoos to their 14th year of league misery.Coach Miguel da Costa’s Vipers will of course have a say in this, with the Venoms – who added hitherto Express top scorer with six goals, Daniel Sserunkuma, to their ranks in the off-season, in third place. They are only six points behind Villa’s 32 and three adrift of KCCA’s 29.KCCA are away on Champions League duty in Madagascar against CNaPS Sport, meaning that coach Wasswa Bbosa’s Villa can stretch the lead to six points with victory over Maroons today. But KCCA are guaranteed to stay second as Vipers cannot score 12-0 at Soana. With their last league title coming in 2004, then under former Cranes coach Micho Sredojevic, Villa, who added Davies Kasirye from Zambian side Zesco on loan to bolster their striking options, have a strong feeling about this particular campaign.“The belief in our camp is that we must end this 14-year-wait for a league title at this club,” Villa legend and assistant coach Paul Mukatabala, who has helped bridge the gap between fans and a supposed ‘Express-leaning’ head coach Bbosa, told SCORE. “The boys are desperate to become heroes and that’s a big positive. We have a very competitive, and in my opinion, the most balanced squad in the league, with players who can start a game or come in as replacements and do the job.”The former midfield player added: “Our headache in the first round was our inability to convert the many chances we create in every match.“But we have been able to acquire on loan, Ugandan striker, Davies Kasirye, from Zambian outfit Zesco United.“From what I have observed of him he will be of great help upfront for us. He brings in creativity and experience. That has been lacking. So we’re set to go for it.”

Defiant MaroonsYet Mukatabala and Bbosa need no reminding that this is the same Maroons that punished their profligacy in front of goal in the first round when Frank Gonahasa pounced at the death to cancel out Yubu Bogere opener at Luzira for a 1-1 stalemate.And Maroons coach Asaph Mwebaze, who took his side to Masaka for today’s clash yesterday, believes they have all it takes to ground Villa.“All conditions at constant and professional officiating we are up there with them,” said Mwebaze, who has added former Onduparaka teenage midfielder Emmanuel Olinga to his squad.Elsewhere, Onduparaka welcome Express looking to extend their unbeaten run against the Red Eagles while URA travel to Bul and Abdallah Mubiru’s Police welcome Mbarara City.